Testing Laboratory
Auckland Te Toka Tumai | Auckland HospitalDepartment
Chemical Pathology
Delphic Registration Code (Alpha Code)
METU
Test Code (Numeric Code)
3583
Laboratory Handling
Phlebotomy
Adults: 24 hr urine is required. Children: Casual urines must be registered urgently and given to Automation staff for acidifying WITHIN 2 HOURS of collection.
Transport
Acidified is preferred - urine is collected into acid bottles (20mL of 6mol/L HCl). Or, if unacidified, must arrive at the laboratory within 48 hours of commencement of collection for acidification by the laboratory.
Registration
Casual paediatric specimens must be registered urgently.
Separating
ADULT: Minimum sample aliquot 5mL. CHILDREN: Minimum sample 2mL.
Laboratory
LabPLUS High Performance Liquid Chromatography
Sample Stability
Unacidified, must arrive at the laboratory within 48 hours of commencement of collection.
Synonyms
3-Methoxytyramine, Metanephrines-Urine, 3MT, 3-methoxytyramine (3MT)
Turnaround Time
1 week
Specimen Type
- 24hr Urine
- Urine
Specimen Requirements
Tube/Container Type:
Preferred
- Acidified 24hr Urine Container
Acceptable
- 24hr Urine Container
Minimum Sample Volume (ml)
5
Paediatric Specimen Requirements
Tube/Container Type:
Preferred
- Specimen Container
Minimum Sample Volume (ml)
2
Additional Specimen Information
Acidified is preferred - urine is collected into acid bottles (20mL of 6mol/L HCl).
Or, if unacidified, must arrive at the laboratory within 48 hours of commencement of collection for acidification by the laboratory.
Urine catecholamines are not usually performed on adult samples except by special arrangement, however, if measurement of catecholamines is also required on the same specimen, the 24h urine MUST be collected into a plastic 2litre bottle containing acid (20 mL of 6mol/L HCl). Unlike metanephrines, acidification after collection does not suffice.
Children : Casual urine sample. Minimum sample 2 mls
Casual paediatric specimens must be acidified within 2 hours of collection.
For casual collects on children at ACH the following protocol is used:
Once the sample is collected, send immediately to the laboratory. Please mark request form "Urgent" so that samples are treated with HCl as soon as possible.
Laboratory Notes
ADULT
24-hour urine collects must be either collected into acid bottles or acidified in the laboratory within 48 hours of commencing collection. 20mL of 6 mol/L HCl is required per 2L of urine.
Minimum sample aliquot 5mL.
Casual urine samples are not recommended for adults. Please register for QSCP and refer to the department.
CHILDREN
Casual urines must be registered urgently and given to Automation staff for acidifying WITHIN 2 HOURS of collection.
Minimum sample 2mL.
Acidify to a pH of 3 - 4.
If a sample misses the 2 hour acidification window, please still acidify the sample immediately and record the time.
The analytical department will then make a decision on how to proceed. These samples should be registered for METU and QSCP to alert the department of the issue.
Last updated: 06/05/2026